MILWAUKEE – A late power play goal proved to be the difference as Chicago fell to Milwaukee, 3-1, in an Amtrak Rivalry game played at the Bradley Center. The contest marked the Wolves’ last appearance in the building, as the Admirals move to a new home next season.
Danny Kristo provided the Wolves’ lone tally with his team-best 23rd goal of the season.
Milwaukee (48-21-3-2) got on the board first on Max Reinhart’s team-leading 22th goal of the season. Driving hard towards the net, Reinhart extended his stick and got enough of a centering pass to nudge a shot past goaltender Jordan Binnington at the 4:25 mark of the second period.
Despite being outshot 15-6 in the middle period, Chicago (31-35-5-3) pulled even at 14:50 when Kristo scored on a 5-on-3 power play. Parked in front of the crease, Kristo tapped in a pass from Ivan Barbashev. Ty Rattie also earned an assist on the play and now has 13 points in his last 13 games.
The Admirals went on the power play with under five minutes left in regulation and capitalized when Trevor Murphy ripped a slap shot from atop the left circle. Patrick Mullen delivered a shot into an empty net with 12 seconds remaining to close scoring for the Central Division champions.
Binnington (16-18-5) made 33 saves while Milwaukee netminder Juuse Saros (29-7-0) finished with 28 saves.
Chicago travels to Iowa on Friday (April 15) before closing its regular season at home Saturday (April 16) against the Wild on First Responders Night. For ticket information on the Wolves’ home finale, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
ADMIRALS 3, WOLVES 1
Chicago 0 1 0 — 1
Milwaukee 0 1 2 — 3
First Period—none.
Penalties—Gaudreau, Milwaukee (hooking), 5:22; Welsh, Chicago (delay of game), 14:23; Girard, Milwaukee (tripping), 14:57; Butler, Chicago (holding), 19:07.
Second Period—1, Milwaukee, Reinhart 22 (Aberg), 4:25; 2, Chicago, Kristo 23 (Barbashev, Rattie), 14:50, pp.
Penalties—Labrie, Chicago (hooking), 9:40; Devane, Milwaukee (roughing), 13:55; Oligny, Milwaukee (cross checking), 14:04; Benoit, Chicago (hooking), 19:01.
Third Period—3, Milwaukee, Murphy 11 (Fiala, Reinhart) 15:47, pp; 4, Milwaukee, Mullen 3 (Fiala, Kamenev), 19:48, en.
Penalties—Fiala, Milwaukee (boarding) 10:24; Schmaltz, Chicago (tripping), 15:28.
Shots on goal—Chicago 9-6-14—29; Milwaukee 8-15-13—36. Power plays—Chicago 1-5; Milwaukee 1-5. Goalies—Chicago, Binnington (33-35); Milwaukee, Saros (28-29). Referees—Kendrick Nicholson and Mark Lemelin. Linesmen—Mike Anderson and Ian McCambridge.
